Security Council must act on Zim – HRW director
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by Mxolisi Ncube
Saturday, 28 May 2011 13:35
JOHANNESBURG – An international human rights expert has called on the United
Nations Security Council to act on continuing human rights abuses in
Zimbabwe before the situation degenerates into a civil war.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) United Nations Director, Philippe Bollopion, said
in an interview with The Zimbabwean here on Friday that the Security Council
should not only act only when a civil war breaks out in a country, but
ensure that human rights situations are addressed before they worsen.
“We believe that human rights violations in Zimbabwe are so widespread and
pervasive that they deserve the Council’s intervention,” said Bollopion, the
UN point man for the international human rights watchdog.
“The UN should not wait until there are two armed groups facing each other,
but use preventive diplomacy to prevent this. When they eventually decide to
act, it might already be too late. We believe that the human rights abuses
that are happening in Zimbabwe and Burma are deeply entrenched and might
degenerate into something worse, like massive displacements or civil war.
The UNSC has a big role to play in stopping that.”
Bollopion also challenged neighbouring South Africa, which is not only the
SADC-appointed mediator in Zimbabwe, but also occupies a temporary seat in
the UNSC, to speak up against the human rights abuses and suppression of
personal freedoms in Zimbabwe by Zanu (PF).
SA must be brave
“South Africa should be very vocal in denouncing abuses in Zimbabwe. It’s
inconsistency on such issues is not good. More bravery on the part of South
Africa, which surpassed expectations when it voted in favour of the UNSC
resolution 1970 on Libya, will guarantee the country a permanent seat in the
UN,” added Bollopion.
“South Africa is a much respected voice when it comes to issues to do with
Africa because of its economic clout and its own human rights record. Butt
it should extend that to a more consistent stance when it comes to defending
human rights abuses outside its borders.”